In plain English
Graduates of an NZQCF Level 7 graduate diploma who studied it full-time in New Zealand and also hold a bachelor’s degree will be eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa of up to 1 year.
Key points
- The bachelor’s degree can be from New Zealand or overseas, with no time limit.
- No International Qualification Assessment needed for the overseas bachelor’s.
- Only one Post-Study Work Visa per person, ever.
- Apply through enhanced Immigration Online from 16 November 2026.
Who’s affected
International students finishing a Level 7 graduate diploma.
What you should do
Check your enrolment covered the full qualification (no cross-crediting) before you finish.
Immigration New Zealand, “Post-Study Work Visa eligibility widens on 16 November”, published 10 September 2026. Read the full announcement. Summary by Destination NZI; INZ content © Crown, licensed under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
Related visas
Stay and work after completing an eligible New Zealand qualification. Eligibility widens on 16 November 2026.
- Stay
- Up to 3 years
- INZ visa fee
- From NZD $1,670
- Processing
- 80% within 5 weeks
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
New from 16 November 2026 for Level 5–7 graduates who don’t qualify for a Post-Study Work Visa. Apply within 3 months of your student visa expiring.
- Stay
- 6 months, open work
- INZ visa fee
- See INZ page
- Processing
- Opens 16 Nov 2026
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
